Calabria, one of the southern regions of Italy, was a crucial area during the Roman era. Known as Bruttium in antiquity, it was originally inhabited by the Bruttii, fierce and independent people who resisted Roman expansion. However, by the 3rd century BCE, Rome had firmly established control, especially after the Pyrrhic Wars and the defeat of Carthage in the Second Punic War. Calabria’s strategic position made it essential for trade and military movements.